Fed Govt, Boko Haram to resume talks

The Islamic sect, Boko Haram, seems set to resume peace talks with the federal government after months of a stalemate, The Nation has gathered.

The talks are expected to facilitate the proposed amnesty for members of the sect.

A reliable source familiar with the development said the decision to discuss with the federal government followed an appeal to the group by northern elders to embrace President Goodluck Jonathan’s amnesty offer.

The Nation also learnt that the federal government is willing to discuss with the sect.

“In fact, the government has encouraged all efforts to facilitate the talks. Specifically, the government has saddled a group of northern elders with the responsibility of bringing the militants to the table once again,” our source said.

“The latest decision by the sect to dialogue with the federal government is hinged on the planned amnesty offer. The last time the sect embraced dialogue was about seven months ago when it gave a group led by Sambo Dasuki, the National Security Adviser, its listening ear.

“That process failed because the group felt the government was insincere. This time, following an appeal by northern elders to it to embrace the amnesty offer in the interest of peace, Boko Haram is willing to discuss the modalities of the offer with the federal government.

“The government is willing to discuss with them and has saddled some northern elders who are in touch with the leadership of the sect with the responsibility of ensuring that talks resume as soon as possible.

“Given the current situation of things and the willingness of both parties to dialogue, talks between federal government and Boko Haram may kick off in a matter of days.”

However, The Nation learnt the sect is coming back to the negotiation table on conditions, one of which is that it will choose the venue of the talks.

“The sect wants to be allowed to choose the venue of the talks as a condition for its participation. It is also demanding that the federal government delegation must be made up of prominent northerners. Another demand by the group is that agreements at the talks must be kept away from the public until the end of the process.

“I think the sect is just trying to take precautionary measures with these demands. In choosing the venue, the militants are being careful. By demanding for respectable northerners on the federal government delegation, they merely want to have people to hold responsible if government reneges on its promises after the talks.”

Efforts to get an official position from the Presidency on the planned resumption of talks with Boko Haram proved abortive as calls made to their phone numbers of Mr. Ahmed Gulak, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters went unanswered. Text messages sent to him were also unanswered at press time.

However, a Presidency source told The Nation that the Presidency is aware of efforts being made by a group of northern governors to bring the Islamic militants to the negotiation table.

“I suspect that the said resumption of talks is as a result of the efforts of some northern governors. They have been discussing with the sect for a while now. Maybe this is the outcome of their labour. If the militants are ready to talk, I can say without fear of any contradiction that the President is open to the idea especially now that he is offering them amnesty,” he said.

Boko Haram is broke financially and almost exterminated – only holding their last resistance in Kano, where they are cornered. And now some people want to negotiate amnesty for them to give Boko Haram billions to rearm and use the Amnesty windfall to attract more moslem youths to join them. How can Jonathan justify this, when they rearm and are able to attack him and other parts of Nigeria? Jonathan pls don’t give them the money and breathing space to rearm

Nasir katsina

Danny boko is nt broke may b u ar,this is an organztn with spread all over the globe,a branch of alqaeda that hav billions of dollars tru charity.u better look 4 what to eat rather than writing trash

Kola

Why is Mr. President fooling himself not nigerians that these wicked people are ghosts? Definitely this issue is beyond religious.

Danny, that is good talks, but let see what will happen at end of their dailogue.

Assoc. Prof.Reginald Onuoha

A bad precedent

Edeh

My own is ‘sidon dey look’.

DrP2

A situation where the northern governors are asking for a Commission for Boko Haram and not just amnesty….treating them as if they are the victims of persecution rather than the perpetrators is nauseating.

The only response to this mindset which is insensitive to the victims of BH atrocities including the United Nations is an insult to our values

If this intolerance is a value that is promoted by elected leaders in the north we have no option but to prepare a bill and other contigencies for confederacy

Remi Omojola

Amnesty for boko haram ,what a wrong decision.

JOSE

AMNESTY BREEDS AMNESTY……..IF YOU GIVE AMNESTY TO KILLERS WHAT WILL YOU GIVE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES……IF HAUSAMAN CAN PRODUCE BOMBS..I THINK IGBOMAN CAN PRODUCE MISSILES

BACK TO MY EATING TABLE

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Blessed

My advice 2 d FG is dat, they shd eat wit d BH wit a very long fork, becos i can smell a rat in this ‘AMNESTY’. WAT ABOUT D AFFECTED MASSES ALL OVER D AFFECTED AREAS?

Obiakor Obioma

If this group called boko haram is actually fighting their fight for Allah i dont think giving them amnesty can stop them. For them to accept amnesty, this actually points to the fact that their struggles and fight is not for their Allah. Its is orchestrated on personal and somehow political agenda. Granting finacial help cannot make a true believer forsake his believe. He fights till what he believes in is achieved. In that premise, i quote and affirm that boko haram was founded to achieve a geo-political and economic ambition of whatever reason they have.

ycat

give them(boko haram) amnesty 4 what?Gej do u think this is the end?lets see what will happen when one of their conditions is that u dnt run 4 a second term.Be rest assured that no one region of this country has monopoly of violence.be warned.

IBY

The reaction of some peaople to the plan by the Jonathan administration to consider granting amnesty to Boko Haram are very mischivious and not well thought out. Im particularly dissappointed by the reaction of Pastor Oristajefor for his lack of maturity. As the head of Christians in Nigeria, he ought to be full of sympathy with the victims of Boko Haram violence, instead of playing poltics with thier lives. in order to show good example of a good leader, he should have moved his base to either Jos, Borno , Yobe or Kano from where he can be making these types of remarks. The leadership of the Nigerian Police usually does this by deploying a DIGP or AIGP to the area where the fire is ranging so that he feels the heat and be able to appreciate the level of the problem. The naked fact is that without peace, Oritsejafore’s xtian followers can not worship and transact thier bussiness from which they get money to pay the salary of the CAN leader. It is most unfortunate that the xritians in Nigeria are having this type of leadership at this critical period in Nigeria.

omoga

God knows His Followers

Eitmfon

Jose, you make me laugh. what has land for sale got to do with amnesty for northern islamic criminals?

Oibe,E.I

If amnesty would solve the problem,then i suppor mr president.

Olu

It is a matter of time, BH will one day consume d north. They are postponing d evil days.

Ndu

Why are Nigerians always in a hurry to criticize every govt policy? The Govt is doing all it could to arrest the state of insecurity in our land. We have tried the open combat strategy which appears not getting d desired impact. What then is the problem with coming to a negotiating table? When we criticize without proferring solutions, we create avenues for confusion and indecision. Let’s see and hear d Boko Haramites, they may have d key to d violence we have been facing. Again,let’us not believe that Govt will be so foolish to spend unnecessarily for d sect in exchange for peace.

Dialogue that will attract lasting peace and one Nija.Are they sure?Now,will they remove the mask?Let Divide this country.By the way,they have nothing to offer.Idoll worshippers,infediles.Buhari and his boys against Christians.Goodluck give them the billions and take 2015 election.

HE WHO WHERES THE SHOES KNOWS WHERE IT PINCH. I AM 1000% SURE THAT ALL THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST THIS AMNESTY ARE CRISTIANS RECIDING AT THE EASTHERN AN SOUTHERN AND WESTHERN REGION .BUT A POOR AND PITY CRISTIAN RECIDING AT MAIDUGURI,YOBE,KANO,PATASKUM,KADUNA,JOS,BAUCHI,ADAMAWA,GOMBE WILL WELCOM THIS AMNESTY WITH OPEN MIND BECOUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO KNOW WHATS GOING NOT BUT YOU ARE AT EDO,ENUGU,LAGOS,ABIA,OYO,RIVERS,RECIDING CONFORTABLE YOU DNT KNOW THE DANGER OF BOMB OR ROCKET LONCHER ALL TYPE OF RIFFLES,e,g AK47.

benjamin kurudu

let watch and see the plan of federal government to talk with evil people look good but it is not the solution ,northen politician should know that the nest people to face this trouble is them, this boys may stop for a while and resume becouse the process you are folowing now is unrealistic you all know it,pretenders day will soon break mark my words